How often do you listen to game critics (mainly G.S.)?

I've noticed that some critics' reviews (particulary on GameSpot) have been quite odd lately...Infamous 2 getting a 7.5 despite massive praise and backlash from fans, Duke Nukem Forever gets a surprisingly pathetic 3.0/10 and I was even surprised by Mortal Kombat's rating, thinking it deserved higher (at least a 9).

Do you usually listen to the reviews on this site or other game sites, or do you choose not to listen to reviews at all and make your own judgement upon playing?

I'm thinking about getting Infamous 2 but the only thing holding me back is the 7.5....I know it's a stupid mindset to have but that's the same score that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed got and I was constantly frustrated with that game throughout.

I use reviews to determine an immediate purchase. I don't really care if the reviewer says the game has a good story or something like that, but I usually listen for things like how long the game will last. If I watch gameplay videos and I think it looks like it'll entertain me, I'll get it. If I hear it only lasts 4 hours in a review though I'll wait for a price drop.

I've noticed that some critics' reviews (particulary on GameSpot) have been quite odd lately...Infamous 2 getting a 7.5 despite massive praise and backlash from fans, Duke Nukem Forever gets a surprisingly pathetic 3.0/10 and I was even surprised by Mortal Kombat's rating, thinking it deserved higher (at least a 9).

Do you usually listen to the reviews on this site or other game sites, or do you choose not to listen to reviews at all and make your own judgement upon playing?

I'm thinking about getting Infamous 2 but the only thing holding me back is the 7.5....I know it's a stupid mindset to have but that's the same score that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed got and I was constantly frustrated with that game throughout.

Tigerman950

I always read the Gamespot reviews and check the user reviews before I buy a game, but I ultimately decide based on whether or not the game looks interesting to me. The Gamespot ratings are not always on the mark, like the 9.0 rating and Editor's Choice for the awful L.A. Noire. I also suspect that there is some surreptitious manipulation of the user ratings by people with a vested interest in promoting certain games, so you have to take all of it with a grain of salt.

Ultimately, buy games that interest you, enjoy them if you like them and write them off if you don't.

I only look at critic reviews of games I already have/like so I can get angry about them being wrong and stuff. Entertaining.

Other than that, I never look at reviews.

If I listened, I wouldn't have played one of my favorite games this gen.

I look at Gamespot, IGN, gameinformers critic and user reviews and that will generally give you a good idea of the product.

Usually when a critic messes up the user reviews will explain what they were wrong about.

i use reviews like i use rotten tomatoes.. if the game is fresh (9.0 or higher) i play it (mainly because of the terribly low bar we have for video games now a days) this has worked to my advantage alot

the last game i didnt listen to this was FONV and that was a horrible game

now sometimes a game gets a rating it does not deserve and the reviewer was just doing a terrible job that day (lost odyssey and infamous 2(i didnt really enjoy infamous 2 but christ its better then FONV and enslaved)) but for the most part especially now if a game gets under a 9 its usually either a bad/increadibly generic game which by no means is worth a 60 dollar price tag or the reviewer did a terrible job... i think the whole review system needs a hard reboot to what it use to be(i mean christ starfox 64 got a 8 and so did deus ex)

Pretty often. Though I only take their word into consideration rather than take it as fact. Heck, the only reason I read reviews much these days is just to see what certain critics whose writing I enjoy thought.

Very, very rare.

If I do it is usually customer reviews on places like Amazon. But even then I read through high and low scores looking for common themes.

For example, I recently looked into replacing 3Wire DSl modem with a D-Link. According to multiple customer reviews it was 50-50 connecting to AT&T and ran hot. Because of this I passed.

Never :D I disagree with almost all of the reviews that Gamespot gives my games, and I'm an impulse gamer, so whatever I see on the shelves that looks interesting, I buy. Plus I'm a sucker for movie games, sequels, soap-opera storiesand anime-ish designs.

That being said, on the matters of entertaining myself, I stick by this: "The only opinion that matters is my own."

I don't even have the Gamespot site bookmarked any more, just the forum index. That's how often I listen to what their critics have to say. I've played too many highly rated games and thought they were crap, and too many low rated games and thought they were great, to have any further use for their opinions.

That would be never.

i see GS as a consumer advice service. i don't think they are critics as such..